If you're in London and looking for the trendiest spot in town, forget all those crowdy pubs and discos: hotel bars are now the meeting places in the British capital.
Over the past few years, London has undergone a sort of renaissance, becoming one of the hip cities of the world. The type of hotels appearing on the scene is indeed one very notable change: in the past hotels in London used to look too "classic", showing conservative decor and an old-style atmosphere. Now London hotels instead offer a complete new experience, offering their customers not only trendy yet classy ambiances, but also shops opened till late, fitness and wellness centers, and above all great restaurants and cocktail bars.

New Meeting Places
If New York hotel bars have always been renowned meeting places for upper-class people, this is on the contrary a new trend in London, where this kind of bars have just started growing in popularity. Many of these bars are very exclusive, just like yesterday's members only clubs, (but unlike the latters, they are of course open to both sexes): often only hotel guests and their friends are allowed in. They are most often located in some of London's most famous places, like Covent Garden or Mayfair, where many social events take place, and moreover they are part of prestigious hotels, often the destnations of famous people, which means that once you get in you are likely to catch a glimpse of your favourite actor or actress. Hotels are rapidly becoming the new meeting points in London.

Classy and trendy venues
Because of their stylish interiors, created by the most famous designers and architects of the moment (like Philippe Starck or Thierry Despont), these bars are often chosen to host important social events: the party of some famous stylist who has just showed his/her latest creation on the catwalk or a buffet to celebrate the premiere of some famous director's movie. In general, stylists and members of the european royal families are regular vistors at Claridge's Hotel bar and restaurant, while the most influential personalities of fashion and the show-biz meet at the Light Bar of St. Martin's lane. At Sanderson's Purple Bar you can often meet some famous movie star (e.g. Hugh Grant) who's just taken his daily yoga lesson at the hotel's gym, while many people simply choose to take a drink at Berkley's Blue Bar just to listen to some gossip about London's social life.

Claridge's
Claridge's Hotel
Brook Street, Mayfair
London W1A 2JQ England
Tel: +44 (0)20 7629 8860
Web site: www.claridges.co.uk/

Light Bar
St.Martin's Lane Hotel,
45 St.Martin's Lane, WC2
Tel: +44 (0)20 7300-5500
Web site: www.ianschragerhotels.com

Purple Bar
Sanderson Hotel
50 Berners Street
London W1T 3NG
Tel: +44 (0)20 7300 1444
Web site: www.ianschragerhotels.com

Blue Bar
Berkeley Hotel
Wilton Place, Knightsbridge
London SW1X 7RL England
Telephone +44 (0)20 7235 6000
Web site: www.savoy-group.co.uk/berkeley/dining/blue_bar.html